Sunday, September 2, 2018

Lettera al governatore della Libia -
Letter to the Governor of Libya

Presso una casa antica e bella
Piena di foto di Regine e di bandiere
Aspettavamo il Console Italiano
La fine dell'estate fu veloce
Nuvole nere in cielo
e qualche foglia in terra
Carico di Lussuria
si presentò l'Autunno di Bengasi
Lo sai che è desiderio della mano
L'impulso di toccarla
Ho scritto già una lettera
al Governatore della Libia

I trafficanti d'armi Occidentali
Passano coi Ministri a fianco alle frontiere
Andate a far la guerra a Tripoli
Nel cielo vanno i cori dei soldati
Contro Al Mukhtar e Lawrence d'Arabia
Con canti popolari da osteria
Lo sai che quell'idiota di Graziani
Farà una brutta fine
Ho scritto già una lettera
al Governatore della Libia...

Lettera al governatore della Libia © 1980 Franco Battiato & Giusto Pio

"Lettera al governatore della Libia" was written for Giuni Rossi and appeared on her first album in 1981. From 1911-1947, Libya was a colony of Italy.

Near an ancient and beautiful house
full of photos of Queens and bandits,
we were waiting for the Italian Consul.
The end of summer came quickly,
black clouds in the sky
and some leaves on the ground.
Full of Lust,
Benghazi Autumn introduced himself.
You know that it’s the hand’s desire,
the impulse to touch her.
I already wrote a letter
to the Governor of Libya.

The Western arms traffickers
pass with the Ministers along the borders.
Go and make war at Tripoli.
To heaven go the choirs of soldiers
against al-Mukhtar and Lawrence of Arabia
with popular tavern songs.
You know for that idiot Graziani
things will come to an ugly end.
I already wrote a letter
to the Governor of Libya . . .

English translation © 2020 Dennis Criteser



Giubbe rosse was released in 1989. It captures performances from the winter portion of the Fisiognomica tour, and included four Battiato songs not previously released on any of his albums.
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